With a family of meerkats on its cover and a code of meerkat ethics preceeding the track list, you have to ask yourself a couple things. First, do I know enough about meerkats? Second, would meerkats actually like the music on Trickski's "Members of the Trick"? Well, based on what I've seen of them, I think they would enjoy it, at least as a soundtrack to an hour or so of their mischevious, foraging antics. Of course this means that I believe meerkats can effectively be represented by analog, 80s inspired house music you're likely to hear slipped into more than a few cosmic disco mixes, but that's part of another discussion entirely.

1. Leroy & Darnell "4 Members Only"
2. Schmutzig de Mutzig "Thank You Daniel"
3. Move Me (feat. Hans Blitz)
4. Paperbitch
5. Powerhorse
6. Future Beat Investigators "All I Want"
7. Yannick Labbe "Gallieni"
8. Skwerl "All Woman (feat. Hubert Tubbs)"
9. Solomun "Keep Control (Pantha Du Prince Remix)"
10. Grace
11. Solomun "Black Rose"

Trickski, comprised of members Yannick Labbé, Daniel Becker, and Fna Müller have been building on their "Member of the Trick" theme on single releases for a while now, and each time the cover features a different animal, so don't get too attached to any one, because either none or all of them can be considered the trio's mascot.

Even though this is a compiled album, hosting songs from not only Trickski, but Leroy & Darnell, Schmutzig De Mutzig, Future Beat Investigators, Yannick Labbe, Swerl, and Solomun as well, it's not a mixed set. This collection brings together the various players at play in past "Trick" EPs. While most of the music moves around in the Detroit house region, some of it goes for more of a cosmic appeal. These slower tempo, slow building tracks are typically the ones from Trickski themselves and rank higher than the others on my personal favorites list.

Leroy Darnell drops some unabashed cosmic disco with the opening track "4 Members Only", Schmutzig de Mutzig (aka Irfane from Outlines) raises the tempo with some house beats on "Thank You Daniel", and then Trickski drop a Detroit biscuit called "Move Me" featuring Hans Blitz on drums and Yannick Labbé providing vocals. After that, Trickski explore more subdued energy with "Paperbitch" and what is among the best tracks to be found here, "Powerhorse". The latter is also available as a 12" single. Future Beat Investigators returns to a Detroit sound on "All I Want", but Yannick Labbé takes us back to the cosmic groove with "Gallieni". Skwerl and Solomun drop a couple house tracks next. Solomun's "Keep Control (Pantha Du Prince remix)" is well worth checking out. Trickski return with an epic cosmic jam called "Grace". This one has incredible percussion and moodiness that builds up into an altogether ferocious sound. It all ends with a 14-minute house cut from Solomun called "Black Rose".

Just kidding. That Solomun song falls just short of 5-minutes in length, so you know what's coming along...a nine-and-a-half minute long hidden track from Forss called "Journeyman" that's been remixed by Trickski. It's a calmly spoken rap over a slow moving, soulful, Detroit influenced groove.

There are enough exclusives, first time outside vinyl, and edit tracks to keep this compilation from simply being a mash of rewarmed EPs. For the subdued housy appeal it's well worth checking out.

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